Vehicle-spring.



E. KOEB (Q R. P. THOMPSON.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.3I. I914.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

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E. KOEB & R. P. THOMPSON.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED 05c 31. 1914.

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E. KOEB & R. P. THOMPSON.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FlLED 05c. 31. 1514.

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Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

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niun. noun, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AND RALPH rn anson-rnomrson, or LEIPSIC, onto.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Leipsic, in the county of Putnam and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, of

which the following is a specification. 7 This invention relates to vehicle frames and to spring supporting means therefor, and is particularly adapted for automobiles although in no sense confined thereto.

The object of the invention is the production of a construction which, while possess: ing the elements of strength, durability, and reasonable cost, shall to a large extent res lieve the vehicle to which it is applied from strain due to irregularities in the road, un-

balanced loading, and the taking of curves,

and which shall add to the ease and safetyv of riding.

The invention aims at the production of a construction which shall absorb and relieve the vehicle'body from shock and at the same time prevent the vehicle body from tilting due to being more heavily loaded on one side than the other, and from swaying due to any cause whatsoever.

Broadly, the invention comprises a rigid frame which carries main supporting springs for the vehicle body and which is provided with lighter compensating springs. While the springs cooperate with one another, the larger springs for the most part sustain the weight of the vehicle body and absorb the greater shocks to which the vehicle is subjected; andthe lighter or compensating springs for the most part absorb the smaller shocks. The frame, although flexibly connected with the vehicle body, because of its rigidity and the supporting of the main springs thereon, provides for a practically uniform flexing of these springs, thereby preventing tilting and swaying of the vehlcle body.

For more specifies presentation of the invention, we have illustrated an embodiment thereof in the drawings which form a part of this application and in which Figure 1 is a fragmental plan of an automobile chassis to which our invention is applied. Fig'. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the wheel of the near side removed. Fig.3 is a rear elevation of the Specification of Letters Patent.

same. Fig. 4- is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig.

1. Fi 6 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing a mo ification of the construction there illustrated. Fig. 7 is a similar view to-Fig.

" 2'showing the construction ofFig. 7.

Considering first Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive,-

Patented Oct. 19, 1915. Application filed December 31, 1914. Serial No. 879,850.

main supporting springs 16, 16, one on each rear ends with the back spring 13 at the ends thereof by universal joints comprising the members 19, 19 and 20, 20. The forward ends of the mainsupporting springs are pivotally connected with the side rails of t e chassisbv bearings. 18, 18. These springs have their concave sides facin'gupward. They are supported, bymeans of brackets 23, 23 at their middle points by a rigid A shaped frame 21, comprising two side members 24, 24 rigidly joined at the front by a connecting bar 25, and intermediate of their length by a cross arm illustrated as comprising an outer tube 22 and an inner tube 38. The outer tube abuts against the brackets 23, 23 and the inner tube extendsthrough these-brackets and is rigidly connected thereto,-and.to the main supporting springs 16, 16. The relative size of the two tubes is such that while the inner tube can turn readily in the outer tube no unnecessary play is allowed between them;-

The rear ends of the A frame are provided with clamps 27, 27 and rigidly support the differential and rear shaft casing 28 with its inclosed mechanism for supporting andv driving the rear wheels 31, 31. Additional means can .be provided for preventing this casing from turning if desired, such, for

example, as a torsion rod 32 which is rigidly side of the chassis, are'connected on their nected with the differential casing, such means need not be. employed. The A frame is supportedat its forward end by two.helical compensating springs 37, 37, the forward bar 25 of the frame being provided with sockets 26, 26 to receive the upper ends of the springs. These springs, by means of collars 34, 34, rods 35, 35, and stops 36, 36, are centrally hung on a cross arm 33 whic is rigidly fastened to the side rails 11, 11 of the chassis, and the collars are rigidly fastened thereto.

- The operation of this form of the inven-* tion may be illustrated as follows: Considering first irregularities of the road: Assume that both rear wheels in passing over an obstruction or gutter are given a uniform and co-temporaneous thrust upward; the A frame will pivot about its cross arm as a fulcrum, the outer'tube 22 thereof turning on the inner tube 38, both compensating springs 37, 37 will be compressed and if the upward thrust of the wheels is not too powerful, will absorb the greater part of the shock. The main supporting springs will receive a slight upward blow. The compression of the compensating springs exerts a downward pull on the chassis; the effort of the main supporting springs on the chassis is upward. These two forces neutralize each other and the .chassis remains unmoved. Where such a thrust on the wheels is great, the main supporting springs together with the rear springs will be flexed, but the neutralizing effect will still be present. Assume now that one of the rear wheels by reason of an obstruction or gutter is thrust upward above the other wheel, the same ivoting of the A frame and neutralizing e ect as above described takes place. But now the A frame in addition pivots laterally on the bearing 14 at the rear, and on the compensating springs at the front. The thrust on the chassis is along its central longitudinal line and no tilting or jolting thereof occurs. Considering the swaying or .tilting of the vehicle body from a cause residing in or due to the vehicle body itself, assume, for example, that the vehicle is more heavily loaded on one side than the other; a greater downward pressure is then exerted on one of the main supporting springs than on the other. But these springs are rigidly connected together by the rigid A frame, and the whole tendency of the compensating springs is to prevent any lateral pivoting movement of this frame in respect to the chassis. Consequetly both of the'main supporting springs will be equally flexed and the vehicle body will remain level. Y

The'construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 follows the construction above described very generally, as is seen by the similarity of the I drawings and reference numerals. The rear spring 13 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to-5 inclusive is omitted. Instead of these, two downwardly inclined masses arms 40, 40, are attached at the rear of the chassis side rails 11, 11, and the rear ends of the main supporting springs 16, 16 are pivotally connected thereto as indicated at 41, 11. Furthermore this form does not necessitate the double tube construction of the cross arm of the A frame, for with the back spring 13 omitted, the brackets 23, 23 may have a relative turning movement on the cross arm. This turning movement compensates for the pivot movement of the rear spring 13 of the first form; so that the operation of the second form is substantially like that of the first.

The foregoing detail description has been given for clearness of understanding and no undue limitations should be deducted therefrom, but the approved claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having two side rails, a supplemental frame, a cross rod secured between said side rails at the intermediate portion of the vehicle, coil springs resiliently connecting the front end of said supplemental frame with said cross rod, the supplemental frame hav ing ground wheels carried thereby at the rear end, a cross member at the intermediate part of the supplemental frame, and a pair of spring members one connected at its middle portion to each end of said cross member, said pair of spring members having their end portions secured to the main frame.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having two side rails, a supplemental frame, a cross rod secured between said side rails at the intermediate portion of the vehicle, coil springs resiliently connecting the front end of said supplemental frame with said cross rod, the supplemental frame having ground wheels carried thereby at the rear end, a tubular cross member at the intermediate part of the supplemental frame. a second cross rod extending through said tubular member, and a pair of spring members one connected at its middle portion to each end of said second cross rod, said pair of spring members having their end portions secured to the main frame.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having two side rails and a rear rail connecting the two side rails with one another, a cross rod secured between said side rails at the intermediate part of the vehicle, a supplemental frame, 'coil springs resiliently connecting the front end of said supplemental frame with said cross rod, the supplemental frame having ground wheels carried thereby at the rear end, a cross mem ber at the intermediate part of the supplemental frame, a pair of spring members one connectedat its middle portion to each end of said cross member, and a rear spring member connected at its middle portion to the middle portion of said rear rail, said side spring members each being connected at one of its ends to a siderailand at its other end to one of the ends of said rear spring member.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having two side rails, a-supplemental frame, a cross rod secured between said side rails at the intermediate portion ,of the vehicle, pins extending downwardly from said cross rod, the front end of the supplemental frame being slidably mounted on the pins and securely anchored thereby, spring seats at the lower ends of the pins, coil springs mounted between the spring seats and the frontend of said supplemental frame to normally maintain the front end in raised position and to absorb the lighter shocks, the supplemental frame having ground wheels carried therebv at the rear end, a cross member at the intermediate part of the supplemental frame, and a pair of spring members one connected at its middle portion to each end of said cross member, said pair of spring member's havmg their end portions secured to the main frame.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having two side rails, a supplemental frame, a cross rod secured between said side rails at the intermediate portion of the vehicle, spring means resiliently connecting the front end of said supplemental frame with said cross rod, a shaft casing secured to the rear end portion of said supplemental frame, a tubular cross member at the intermediate part of the supplemental frame, a

second cross rod. extending through said tubular member, a pair of spring members-one connected at its middle portion to each end of said second cross rod, said pair of springsv ond cross rod secured between the side rails,

pins extending downwardly from the second cross rod, said supplemental frame having two diverging rails approaching one another at their front ends, a bracket connecting the front ends of the rails, cup-shaped members formed in said bracket and facing downwardly, there being central openings through the cup-shaped members through which the pins pass to slidably'mount the front ends of the diverging rails, springseats at the lower ends of the pins, coil springs mounted between the spring-seats and the cup-shaped members to absorb light shocks, and a shaft-casing secured to. the rear end portion of said supplemental frame.

EMIL KOEB. RALPH PEARSON THOMPSON.

Witnesses EDWARD SGHAFER, A. STECHSOHULTZ. 

